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Art makes the world a colorful place, and fostering creativity is just how the Fleisher Art Memorial hopes to keep art alive in South Philly.
The Fleisher Art Memorial, 719 Catharine St., was named a finalist for the 2012 Knight Arts Challenge for its proposal of ColorWheels, a mobile art studio roaming the neighborhoods of South Philly and providing on-the-spot art-making.
With a rich history rooted in dedication to art, the site offers instruction in several artistic media.
“Our intent at Fleisher is to be able to serve people at any stage of their creative lives,” Executive Director Matthew Braun said.
Founded by Samuel Fleisher in 1898, the Fleisher Art Memorial — originally named the Graphic Sketch Club — had a mission to provide workers in South Philly’s woolen factory with art instruction. In 1915, the success of the club’s programs prompted relocation to a facility, formerly a boys’ school in Bella Vista. Classrooms and galleries were fitted into the building, and a desanctified chapel decorated with Fleisher’s global art collection and murals by Philly native Violet Oakley, served as a multipurpose room. Today, the chapel still hosts everything from art classes to weddings, and the buildings and rooms of Fleisher keep their charm with paint-streaked easels and pottery kilns.
Fleisher’s plan for ColorWheels is a way of bringing art to the world beyond its walls. With hopeful funding from the challenge, a vibrant van stocked with art supplies and digital cameras will cruise the streets of South Philly, making art happen for adults and children at community sites, festivals and sports events. Developed out of a research campaign to learn how to better attract and engage South Philly’s residents, ColorWheels aims to come to, show, and welcome residents to create art from the comfort of their surroundings.
The same trained teaching artists from Fleisher will work with ColorWheels, and art instructors, volunteers and FAMbassadors — Fleisher’s community liaisons — will work together to link residents with artistic experiences at Fleisher, helping their neighbors overcome obstacles to creating art. Financial aid resources will be provided on-site with ColorWheels, in addition to small workshops on different art media.
“Part of what we’re aiming to do with ColorWheels is to help people become inspired by and then stay engaged with art-making,” Braun said.
Other finalists:
Contact the South Philly Review at editor@southphillyreview.com.
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